1月8日是“猫王”埃尔维斯•普雷斯利74岁诞辰，而就在1月9日，澳大利亚小镇帕克斯第六届“猫王节”也拉开了帷幕。来自各地的“猫王”模仿者们身着亮闪闪的紧身衣，戴着飞行员太阳镜，梳着“猫王”经典发型争相挤上“埃尔维斯快车”参加长大6小时的模仿秀之旅。在旅途结束时还会评出“车上最佳着装奖”之类的奖项。除了例行的模仿秀活动之外，今年还会有超过8000名粉丝参加埃尔维斯教堂服务、街道巡游等活动。

The hair. The hips¹. The skin-tight, rhinestone² suits. Hundreds of Elvis Presley lookalikes gyrated their way onto the "Elvis Express" on Friday to take part in one of Australia's biggest tributes to The King.

Some 370 devotees, many decked out with quiff hairstyles, aviator³ sunglasses, guitars and those infamous⁴ suits, will take part in the week-long Countrylink Elvis Festival in Parkes, a town in the Australian outback.

It coincides with what would have been Presley's 74th birthday on January 8.

"There were plenty of characters at Central (train station) this morning, a good mix of people, young, old and families as well," Countrylink spokesman Metodi Jovanovski told Reuters.

During the six-hour train trip over mountains and through farming country, fans of Elvis and his actress wife Priscilla Presley will entertain each other, as well as vie for prizes that include the "best dressed on board."

The Elvis Festival, which is in its sixth year, is expected to attract about 8,000 people to the town of Parkes, 357 km (222 miles) from Sydney, and nearly doubling its population for the duration of the event.

The 2009 programme features events such as an Elvis gospel church service, a street parade and for romantics, there's the "Back to the Altar with Elvis - Renewal⁵ of Wedding Vows⁶" and the "Miss Priscilla Dinner & Big Hair Competition."

Vocabulary:

gyrated one's way onto: 千方百计挤上...